TDs demand high-speed broadband access for Galway

Paul Connaughton and Noel Grealish said high-speed broadband needs to be prioritised for the county

by Eleanor Rosney

on 21st May, 2015

Fine Gael East Galway TD Paul Connaughton has demanded that post offices in rural areas of Galway should receive high-speed broadband access similar to the scheme used to bring broadband to secondary schools.

Currently post offices in Caltra, Kilkerrin, Lavally, Dunmore, Ballygar and Headford are not properly served by broadband and Connaughton believes that these locations need be prioritised during future roll-outs from the Department of Communications.

Connaughton went on to say that access to high-speed broadband would allow an enhanced range of services in these areas and post offices.

Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish also believes that broadband needs to be prioritised for the county.

He believes that SIRO, the joint venture between Vodafone and the ESB to bring broadband speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps to Ireland has “virtually ignored” Galway.

Galway city was the only location in the county to be selected in the 50 rollout towns for the first phase of the project.

Grealish commented: “All over County Galway there are businesses that find it a daily struggle to cope with poor and unreliable internet connection and it’s seriously affecting the way they can do business.”

Grealish called this “an imbalance that must be addressed” and wants Vodafone and the ESB to “immediately add Galway towns to their list as a priority”.